Agricultural implement



Jan. 30, 1945. A. G. EVANS AGRI CULTURAL IMPLEMENT Original Filed March 22, 1943 IN VEN TOR. @[rfiaar GZzDarza.

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Patented Jan. 30, 1945 AGRICULTURAL IJM'PLEMENT Arthur G. Evans, Canton, 111., assignor to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Original application March 22, 1943, Serial No.

480,012. Divided and this application Decemher 6, 1943, Serial No. 512,998

6 Claims.

This invention relates to tractor-mounted agricultural implements and, more particularly, to power lifting mechanism therefor.

The invention is particularly applicable to the type of power-lift control mechanism described W. Mott, Serial No. 466,463, filed Nov. 21, 1942, to which reference may be had for a full disclosure thereof; however, the invention may be readily adapted to other types of power lifts.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 480,012, filed March 22, 1943.

In tractor-mounted implements where there are working tools mounted for vertical movement on the front of the tractor and working tools mounted for vertical movement on the rear of the tractor, it is customary to place the principal cultivating equipment at the front of the tractor where it can be easily viewed by the operator, and where multi-row cultivating is practiced, the working tools frequently extend considerably away from the tractor, while the rear tools function principally to remove the rear tracks and do not extend laterally beyond the tractor. It is desirable when cultivating toward the end of a row, that the forwardly mounted tools be raised from the ground when they pass the end of the crop row, but that the rear tools I in copending United States application of Carl remain in the ground until their part of the cultivating operation is completed. This type of independent operation of front and rear tools is generally known as delayed lift. At other times, as when encountering raised land at the side of a field, it is desirable that front working tools on one side of the tractor be raised or lowerecl independently of the front working tools on the other side, either to adjust the working depth thereof or to raise the working tools out of contact with the ground. Since the rear working tools do not in the present instance extend laterally from the tractor, independent movement thereof is generally unnecessary. This type of independent operation of the front working tools on one side of a tractor with respect to those on the other side is known as selective lift.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for transmitting power to tractor-mounted implements from a source mounted on the tractor and deriving power therefrom.

Another object is to provide means connected to the source of power, whereby front and rear connected working tools may be raised or lowered independently.

Still another object is to provide means whereby front working tools on each side of the tractor may be independently operated, and rear work ing tools on both sides of the tractor operated as a unit.

These and other objects and advantages will be come clear from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a tractor with an implement embodying the features of the present invention attached thereto, wherein provision is made for independent lifting of front and rear rigs or gangs of working tools; and

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a detail. showing the power lifting mechanism by which front working tools on each side of the tractor may be operated independently, and rear working tools may be operated as a unit.

Referring particularly to Figure 1, it will be noted that the numeral ill designates the body portion of a tractor having front wheels ii and rear wheels H. The rear wheels l2 are mounted on opposite ends of a transverse rear axle l3 journaled in a rear axle structure It, having afiixed thereto attaching portions 15 for the connection of rear cultivator rigs l6. It will be observed that the working tool is provided with a cultivator shovel I1 and is connected to the tractor through the intermediary of upper and lower parallel links l8 and I9, pivotally mounted upon a bracket 20 affixed to the attaching portion I5 by bolts 2|. There is likewise provided on bracket 20 a pivoted lever 22 connected to the lower parallel link l9 by an adjustable rod 23 having a handle 24, whereby independent adjustment of the rear rig may be made. To the forward end of the tractor is connected for vertical movement a cultivator rig 25 having cultivating shovels 26 thereon. The connection of the working tool to the tractor is made by means of upper and lower parallel links 21 and 28 pivotally mounted upon a bracket 29 attached to the forward portion of the tractor by means of bolts 30. Also pivoted on the bracket is a lever 31 connected to the working tool by a lift rod 32. While the working tools on only one side of the tractor are shown, it maybe noted that both sides of the tractor are similarly equipped. Likewise, it will then be noted that the front tools are shown in raised or transport position, while the rear tools are shown in working position.

The body portion ID of the tractor is provided with an intermediate housing 33, in which is 8111 closed the fluid power arrangement by which the working tools are moved to and from ground;- working position. For the purposes of the presant invention, only fluid-actuated cylinder devices 34, 35, and 38, indicated in Figure 2, are shown. Actuation of the cylinder devices, and therefore movement of the working tools, is under the control of the tractor operator and is initiated by manipulation of manual levers 31, 38, and 38 for cylinders 38, 35, and 34, respectively. The levers 31, 38, and 33 are mounted on the steering post 48 of the tractor for movement over a suitable quadrant 4|, on the supporting framework 42, of which the levers are mounted by a pin 43. Through the intermediary of links 44, 45, and 48, the levers 31, 38, and 38 are connected respectively to levers 41, 48, and 48 mounted for rocking movement in a manner to be hereinafter more fully described.

Journaled in bearings 5| in housing 33 and extending to opposite sides of the tractor body is a transverse rock-shaft 52 surrounded by spaced loose sleeves 53 and 54 of such length as to permit the ends of shaft 52 to project somewhat therebeyond. At opposite ends of shaft 52 and outside the housing 33, levers 55 are mounted and affixed to shaft 52 as by welding. These levers are adapted for rocking movement with shaft 52 in directions longitudinally of the tractor. Adjacent opposite ends of sleeve portions 53 and 54 and outside the housing 33, levers 58 and 51 are mounted and affixed to the respective sleeve portions as by welding. These levers are likewise adapted for rocking movement with sleeve portions 53 and 54 in directions longitudinally of the tractor. In the arrangement shown in Figure 1, and it should be understood that both sides of the tractor are similarly equipped, the rear working tools on opposite sides of the tractor are connected by connecting rods 58 to the levers 55 on the shaft 52, while the forward working tools are connected by connecting rods 58 to levers 58 and 51 on opposite sides of the tractor. Forward movement of levers 55 effects upward movement of rear working tools I8, while forward movement of levers 58 and 51 effects upward movement of forward working tools 25. Since shaft 52 and sleeves 53 and 54 may be independently rocked, it becomes clear that with the arrangement shown, the rear working tools l8 may be raised or lowered as a unit independently of the forward working tools 25,

and that the forward working tools 25 on each side of the tractor may be raised or lowered independently of each other.

Independent rocking movement of shaft 52 and sleeves 53 and 54 is effected by the cylinder devices 34, 35, and 35 located within the housing 33. These cylinder devices are of the double-acting fluid-actuated type and are provided with pistons 80, 8|, and 82, as indicated in Figure 2. Pistons 80 and 82 are pivotally connected to rock arms 83 and 85 afiixed respectively to sleeves 53 and 54 as by welding. When pistons 80 and 82 are extended, levers 58 and 51 are rocked forwardly, raising the forwardly mounted working tools from the ground. Upon retraction of pistons 80 and 82, the working tools are returned to groundworking position. Piston 8| of cylinder 35 is operatively connected to shaft 52 by rock arm 84 weldingly secured to the shaft. Upon extension of piston 8 I, shaft 52 is rocked, levers 55, on oppoaseams devices 34, 35. and 38 for actuating shaft 52 and sleeves 53 and 54 by a mechanism which forms no part of the present invention. This mechanism provides a high degree of control of the rate at which fluid is supplied to the cylinders 34, 35, and 38, and manual operation of this mechanism is effected by the levers 31, 38, and 38, accessible to and under the control of an operator from his station 88. Lever 39, through link 48, is connected to lever 48. Lever 48 is affixed to the end of a shaft 81 extending through and rotatably mounted in housing 33. Depending from shaft 81 is an arm 88 operatively connected by a link 88 to a control mechanism generally indicated at 18 for cylinder device 34. This control mechanism may be more fully understood by reference to copending United States application Serial No. 466,463. Shaft 81 is surrounded by a sleeve 1| somewhat shorter than shaft 81 and having afllxed thereto the lever 48, which is connected by link 45 to hand lever 38. Likewise, affixed to sleeve 1| is an arm 12 operatively connected by a link 13 to a control mechanism generally indicated at 14 for cylinder device 35, the operation of which is substantially similar to that provided for control mechanism 10. Sleeve 1|, adjacent its right-hand end, is surrounded by a sleeve 15 ,somewhat shorter than sleeve 1| and having affixed thereto the lever 41, which is connected by link 44 to hand lever 31. Also aflixed to sleeve 15 is an arm 18 operatively connected by a link 11 to a control mechanism generally indicated at 14 for cylinder device 38.

When it is desired to effect delayed lifting of rear working tools with respect to front working tools, as at the end of a row, the manual levers 31 and 39 are first moved along the quadrant 4| to the position corresponding to the vertical position the front working tools are to occupy with respect to the ground. Cylinders 34 and 38 are then actuated and pistons 88 and 82 extended to rock levers 58 and 51 forwardly to raise the front working tools from ground-working position. With the organization shown in Figure 1, this is accomplished easily by an operator grasping the levers 31 and 38 with the fingers of one hand. When the rear working tools have reached the end of the row, the manual lever 38 is manipulated to turn sleeve 1| and actuate cylinder 35. Piston 8| is then extended to rock levers forwardly, thus raising the rear working tools. Independent operation of front mounted tools on opposite sides of the tractor for selective lift 55 thereof is effected by the independent manipulasite ends of the shaft and on opposite sides of the 10 tion of hand levers 31 and 39. However, it is readily apparent that the front tools may be operated simultaneously by joint manipulation of hand levers 31 and 38. Likewise, the operator can raise or lower all the working tools simultaneously by grasping all three of the levers with one hand and manipulating them jointly.

It should now be understood that a simple and efficient mechanism has been provided whereby selective lifting of the working tools at only one end of the tractor may be obtained, while the working tools at the other end of the tractor may be lifted as a unit. While the invention has been described in connection with the ultilizatlon of cultivating tools, it is obvious, of course, that it is adaptable for use with other soil-working tools.

Having now described the invention in its preferred form. it should be understood that variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit or the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

i. In a tractor-mounted agricultural implement including earth-working tools mounted at different lccationson the tractor for movement with respect thereto and power-lifting devices mounted on the tractor, in combination, a transverse shaft on the tractor, arms affixed to each end of said shaft, means connecting said arms to the tools in certain locations on the tractor, a pair of sleeves loose upon said shaft, arms affixed to each said sleeve, means connecting the arms on each sleeve to the tools in certain other locationsv on the tractor, separate:'power-lifting devices connected to each sleeve for independent rocking movement thereof, and another powerlifting device connected to said shaft for independent rocking movement thereof.

2. In a tractor-mounted agricultural implement comprising front and rear, earth-working rigs mounted upon opposite sides of the tractor for vertical movement with respect thereto and another power-lifting device connected to said shaft for independent rocking movement thereof.

3. In a tractor-mounted agricultural imple.

ment comprising front and rear earth-working rigs mounted upon opposite sides of the tractor for vertical movement with respect thereto and Dowbination, a transverse shaft extending to opposite sides of the tractor, rock arms amxed to opp site ends of said shaft, means connecting each said rock arm to one of the rear rigs on each side of the tractor, a sleeve adjacent each end of said shaft and loosely mounted thereon, a rocker-m affixed to each sleeve, means connecting each said rock arm to one of the front rigs on each side of the tractor, separate power-lifting devices connected to each sleeve for independent rocking movement thereof. whereby front rigs on each side of the tractor may be operated independently,

and another power-lifting device connected to ment comprising front and rear earth-working rigs mounted upon opposite sides of the tractor for vertical movement with re p thereto and power-lifting devices mounted on the tractor and deriving D wer therefrom, in combination. a

- transverse rock-shaft mounted upon the tractor betweenlaidfrontandrearriesandhavingends projecting laterally from opposite sides of the tractor, a rock arm afllxed to each end of said shaft, means connecting each said armto the rear rig on its side of the tractor, a pair or laterally spaced sleeves on said shaft and having ends projecting laterally from opposite sides of the tractor,

a rock arm affixed to the laierallyprojecting end of each said sleeve, means connecting each said arm to the front rig on-its side of the tractor, and

' power-lifting devices mounted on the tractor, in

three power lift devices arranged within the lateral confines of the tractor for independently rocking said sleeves and said shaft.

5. In a tractor-mounted agricultural implement comprising front and rear earth-working rigs mounted upon opposite sides of the tractor for vertical movement with respect thereto and power-lifting devices mounted on the tractor and deriving power therefrom. in combination, a transverse rock-shaft mounted upon the tractor between said front and rear rigs and having ends projecting laterally from opposite sides of the tractor, a rock arm affixed to each end of said shaft, means connecting each said arm to the rear rig on its side of the tractor, a pair of laterally spaced sleeves on said shaft and having ends projecting laterally from opposite sides of the tractor, a rock arm affixed to the laterally projecting end of each said sleeve, means connecting each said arm to the front rig on its side of the tractor, three power lift cylinders arranged in side-byside relation within the, lateral confines of the tractor, a lever on each said sleeve and said shaft, and means connecting said cylinders to said levers for independently rocking said sleeves and said shaft.

6. In a tractor-molmted agricultural implement comprising front and rear earth-working rigs mounted upon opposite sides of the tractor for vertical movement with respect thereto and 40 power-lifting devices mounted on the tractor and er-lifting devices mounted on the tractor, in comderiving power therefrom, in combination, a transverse rock-shaft moimted upon the tractor between said front and rear and having ends device,asecondtransverseshaft ilrst-mentionedshafaaflrstsleeveonlaidlhaft. asecond sleeveonsaidiirstsleeve, connecting means betweeneachsaidlhaftand andoneofsaideonh'olmeanaandmeansfor selectively, independently or simultaneously new atingaaidseccndshaftanditssleeva' a'a'rnonalvans. 

